Referendum Result: City votes to scrap elected mayor
STOKE-ON-TRENT'S Elected Mayor system is being scrapped after just six years.
Residents have voted to return to the council leader and cabinet system after going to the polls for yesterday's historic referendum.
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Breaking News: City votes to scrap elected mayor
Just 19.23 per cent of the 186,698 eligible voters turned out, with 21,231 backing the council leader and cabinet system.
The Elected Mayor system attracted 14,592 votes. There were 47 spoilt ballot papers.
Now current mayor Mark Meredith faces an uneasy final six months in power before leaving office in May.
A council leader and 10-member cabinet will then be chosen and must be retained for at least 10 years.
Leaders of the anti-elected mayor campaign group Democracy4Stoke this afternoon welcomed the result, saying it proved the mayoral system was unpopular with residents.
Campaign leader Councillor Mike Barnes said: “The result today I think is a victory for democracy. Democracy is back in Stoke-on-Trent.”
But the result is a devastating blow for pro-mayoral supporters, who argued only an elected mayor chosen by the people could guide the city through the next decade of challenges.
People’s Choice campaign co-ordinator Paul Breeze said: “I’m deeply disappointed. We’re going back to a system that led our city into decline.”
Mr Meredith, who intended to stand for the mayoral post again if the referendum result had gone the right way, said: “I promised a referendum and was proud that we delivered that promise yesterday and of course I accept the result. In politics you win some, you lose some.
“The people of Stoke-on-Trent have decided, albeit on a relatively low turnout, that they wish to return to a leader and cabinet model.”
Councillors are now expected to spend the next few weeks thrashing out arrangements for the appointment of a council leader and cabinet.
With no party or group holding a majority in the council chamber, intense negotiations and possible power-sharing deals among potential leadership candidates are expected to be thrashed out over the next few weeks.
An anonymous poll off all 60 councillors conducted by The Sentinel this week revealed at least 10 members intend to stand as council leader.
The poll revealed BNP group leader Alby Walker as the most popular choice with eight nominations.
THE RESULTS
‘Yes’ for council leader: 21,231
‘No’ for elected mayor: 14,592
Spoilt ballot papers: 47
Turnout: 19.23 per cent
38 Comments
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by True Brit, Newchapel
Saturday, October 25 2008, 9:59AM
“Perhaps the BNP will run things better. There's been rotten councillors for years and the only thing they've succeeded in is turning Stoke-on-Trent into a dump.”
by Tom, Stanners
Friday, October 24 2008, 11:44PM
“Mark first of all let this moron explain to you what a Prime Minister is.It means first minister a first amongst equals.If you want to elect a leader,they would be called a president,if that's what you want i suggest you sort your passport out as soon as.I like your idea of voting in a council but then not trusting them to pick out a leader themselves. As for all the scaremongerers who are talking about the BNP , do they really believe that the rest of the council will let that happen.? Of course not,they will vote for the council cat first. But it does say one thing ,that the BNP blokes ,when polled , at least showed a bit of solidarity and looked as if they were working to the same agenda unlike the rest of them.,,who chose nine other prospects. I couldn't agree more with Kevin, Why should we contend with 65 on the gravy train,when we can away with 60?
Politically Aware,can't fault your cheek mate,keep having referendums till you get the answer that you want. You sound like another one who should be searching for his passport,may i suggest Zimbabwe?
At the end of the day the council will do whatever they are advised to do by civil servants both from London and Stoke,whether it be council or mayor their only interest is their own.The sad thing is that all the people are aware of this,hence low or should i say worse than low?turnout. but could not be arsed to do anything about it ..”
by Mark, Greater Manchester
Friday, October 24 2008, 10:31PM
“Matthew of Derby, what on earth are you talking about? When have I commented on the unelected council manager? When did I say that was democratic? The referendum was a choice between a leader and cabinet and a mayor and cabinet (REPLACING THE COUNCIL MANAGER), and my comments were in relation to that choice (quite obviously I would say as well). The current system has a big flaw in it, that being the unelected council manager. I have always thought this.
And you're SERIOUSLY advancing a proposition that a city council should be or could be LEADERLESS? How on earth would day-to-day decisions be taken? Where on earth would strategic vision come from?
I think I would rather be ruled by a dictator than a bunch of councillors without any overall leadership.
What a thoroughly unintelligent and ridiculous comment from start to finish!”
by ada, smallthorne
Friday, October 24 2008, 8:25PM
“Ivan, can't wait to say goodbye.”
by Matthew, Derby
Friday, October 24 2008, 7:22PM
“Currently decisions in Stoke are made by the "executive" - made up of the elected mayor and the UNELECTED council manager (currently Chris Harman). Mark of Greater Manchester believes this system is democratic because the people can vote for the mayor and councillors - yes, but they cannot vote for the UNELECTED council manager. It is the Council Manager position that makes Stoke-on-Trent's unique political governance structure so undemocratic, and the absence of a Council Manager as an executive decision-maker is what makes having a traditional council setup a much more democratic option.
However, I have doubts about the new structure. Why does the council need a "leader" or a "mayor" or a "council manager" - elected or unelected? I support the setting up of a council chamber where decisions are made by the entire council, with each elected councillor equal, rather than subordinates to a cabinet or leader.”